Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Launches “Yuva Nidhi” Scheme: Monthly Stipend for Unemployed Graduates and Diploma Holders
In a symbolic gesture, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah distributed cheques to six beneficiaries to inaugurate the “Yuva Nidhi” scheme, the fifth guarantee introduced by the Karnataka government on Friday. The initiative promises a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 for graduates and ₹1,500 for diploma holders who have been unemployed for over 180 days after completing their education in the academic year 2022-23.
The stipend will be provided for a maximum of two years, ceasing once the beneficiary secures employment. Individuals pursuing higher education or engaged in ongoing studies are not eligible for the program. The state government has allocated ₹250 crore for the scheme in the current fiscal year, with projections of the cost rising to ₹1,200 crore next year and ₹1,500 crore annually from 2026 onwards.
This initiative adds to the four existing guarantees introduced by the Congress government, including “Shakti” for free bus rides for Karnataka women, “Anna Bhagya” providing 10 kg of rice to BPL families, “Gruha Jyoti” offering free electricity up to 200 units for households, and “Gruha Lakshmi” granting ₹2,000 per month to women heading families with APL/BPL ration cards.
Siddaramaiah highlighted plans to provide skill development training to scheme beneficiaries, with a two-year duration for the initiative. The benefit will be discontinued once the individual secures employment, and the skill development department will determine the specific training provided.
